The Reading / Listening - Birdwatching - Level 3

Birds are fascinating and beautiful creatures. Looking at them in the wild could be good for us. That is what researchers in Toronto, Canada say. The scientists found that birdwatching could protect our brains against age-related diseases. Lead researcher Dr Erik Wing said: "Skills from birding could be beneficial for intelligence and thinking as people age." Dr Wing and his colleagues compared scans of the brain activity of 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies. The brains of the veteran birders were a lot more active. Dr Wing said the veterans had a longer attention span and a better memory than those new to the hobby. He added that the veterans could also process information more quickly.

The scientists believe birdwatching benefits the brain like learning a musical instrument. This is because the brain learns new skills, which add new pathways and connections. Dr Wing said birdwatching combines the ability to search for and identify things with a sensitivity to movement and pattern detection. Other scientists recommend the hobby. They say it is good for our mental health and can reduce stress. It is also good for our physical health because we are outside in the fresh air and sunlight. Other benefits include connecting with nature and becoming aware of the environment. Birdwatchers say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many like-minded people.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Birdwatching - Level 0,  Birdwatching - Level 1   or  Birdwatching - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.newscientist.com/article/2516604-birdwatching-may-reshape-the-brain-and-build-its-buffer-against-ageing/
  • https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/birdwatching-birding-brain-boost-cognition-research-rcna259945
  • https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/38314282/bird-watching-health-benefits/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BIRDS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about birds. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       birds / beautiful creatures / in the wild / birdwatching / age-related diseases / hobby /
       musical instrument / new skills / movement / patterns / stress / fresh air / nature
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BIRDWATCHING: Students A strongly believe birdwatching is better than going to a zoo; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AGEING: How could the things in the table slow down ageing? Would you try these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Slowing Down Ageing

Trying Them

Birdwatching

 

 

A vegan diet

 

 

Power walking

 

 

Eight hours sleep

 

 

Daily yoga

 

 

Stress management

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. AGE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "age". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. THE BEST BIRD: Rank these with your partner. Put the best bird at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Eagle
  • Flamingo
  • Penguin
  • Kingfisher
  • Parrot
  • Hummingbird
  • Owl
  • Dove

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. fascinating a. Illnesses that make people or animals sick.
      2. creatures b. Very, very interesting.
      3. in the wild c. In natural countryside and not changed by people.
      4. diseases d. People you work with.
      5. age (verb) e. A person with a lot of experience in something.
      6. colleagues f. Animals or living beings.
      7. veteran g. Get older.

    Paragraph 2

      8. benefits (verb) h. When something moves or changes position.
      9. combines i. Having the same ideas, ways of thinking, or interests.
      10. identify j. Clean, cool air outside, especially in the countryside.
      11. movement k. Find out what something is.
      12. reduce l. Make something smaller or less.
      13. fresh air m. Helps or is good for.
      14. like-minded n. Joins two or more things together.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says birds are the world's most beautiful creatures.     T / F
  2. The article says keeping a bird as a pet can fight age-related diseases.    T / F
  3. Researchers scanned the brains of 58 birdwatchers.     T / F
  4. Veteran birdwatchers had more active brains than newer birdwatchers.    T / F
  5. Birdwatching activates brains more than playing a musical instrument.    T / F
  6. Birdwatching can help build new pathways in the brain.     T / F
  7. The article says birdwatching can help lower stress.     T / F
  8. Birdwatching can help people meet other like-minded people.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. beautiful
  2. found
  3. beneficial
  4. colleagues
  5. veterans
  6. believe
  7. connections
  8. identify
  9. benefits
  10. meet
  1. discovered
  2. recognize
  3. old-timers
  4. links
  5. coworkers
  6. advantages
  7. think
  8. attractive
  9. make contact with
  10. helpful

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. Birds are fascinating and
  2. Looking at them in the
  3. protect our brains against age-
  4. the veterans had a longer attention
  5. veterans could also process information
  6. like learning a musical
  7. They say it is good for our mental
  8. we are outside in the fresh
  9. benefits include connecting
  10. they meet many like-
  1. with nature
  2. more quickly
  3. air and sunlight
  4. related diseases
  5. minded people
  6. beautiful creatures
  7. span
  8. health
  9. wild
  10. instrument

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
wild
lot
as
memory
fascinating
quickly
age
scans

Birds are (1) ______________________________________________ and beautiful creatures. Looking at them in the (2) ______________________________________________ could be good for us. That is what researchers in Toronto, Canada say. The scientists found that birdwatching could protect our brains against (3) ______________________________________________ -related diseases. Lead researcher Dr Erik Wing said: "Skills from birding could be beneficial for intelligence and thinking (4) ______________________________________________ people age." Dr Wing and his colleagues compared (5) ______________________________________________ of the brain activity of 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies. The brains of the veteran birders were a                                       (6) ______________________________________________ more active. Dr Wing said the veterans had a longer attention span and a better                                       (7) ______________________________________________ than those new to the hobby. He added that the veterans could also process information more                (8) ______________________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
identify
stress
aware
benefits
recommend
minded
pathways
fresh

The scientists believe birdwatching (9) ______________________________________________ the brain like learning a musical instrument. This is because the brain learns new skills, which add new (10) ______________________________________________ and connections. Dr Wing said birdwatching combines the ability to search for and (11) ______________________________________________ things with a sensitivity to movement and pattern detection. Other scientists (12) ______________________________________________ the hobby. They say it is good for our mental health and can reduce (13) ______________________________________________. It is also good for our physical health because we are outside in the (14) ______________________________________________ air and sunlight. Other benefits include connecting with nature and becoming (15) ______________________________________________ of the environment. Birdwatchers say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many like-(16) ______________________________________________ people.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) scientists found that birdwatching could protect our brains against ______
     a.  age-relate diseases
     b.  age-related diseases
     c.  aged-related diseases
     d.  ages-related diseases
2)  Skills from birding could be beneficial for intelligence and thinking ______
     a.  as people gauge
     b.  as people age
     c.  as people rage
     d.  as people ages
3)  The brains of the veteran birders were a ______
     a.  lot more active
     b.  lot moor active
     c.  lot mere active
     d.  lot mare active
4)  Dr Wing said the veterans had a longer attention span and ______
     a.  abet a memory
     b.  a better memories
     c.  a better memorial
     d.  a better memory
5)  He added that the veterans could also process ______
     a.  information much quickly
     b.  in formation more quickly
     c.  inform nation more quickly
     d.  information more quickly

6)  scientists believe birdwatching benefits the brain like learning ______
     a.  a music call instrumental
     b.  a musically instrument
     c.  a musical instrument
     d.  a musical instrumental
7)  This is because the brain ______
     a.  learns news skills
     b.  learns new skills
     c.  learns news kills
     d.  learn news kills
8)  Dr Wing said birdwatching combines the ability to search for ______
     a.  and identity things
     b.  and indemnify things
     c.  and identify things
     d.  and I dent iffy things
9)  good for our physical health because we are outside in ______
     a.  the fresh air
     b.  the freshly air
     c.  the fresh airs
     d.  a fresh air
10)  their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many ______
     a.  likes-minded people
     b.  liked-minded people
     c.  likely-minded people
     d.  like-minded people

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Birds are fascinating (1) __________________________________________________. Looking at them in the wild could be good for us. That is what researchers in Toronto, Canada say. The scientists found that birdwatching could (2) __________________________________________________ against age-related diseases. Lead researcher Dr Erik Wing said: "Skills from birding could be beneficial for intelligence and thinking (3) __________________________________________________." Dr Wing and his colleagues compared scans of the (4) __________________________________________________ 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies. The brains of the veteran birders were a lot more active. Dr Wing said the veterans had a (5) __________________________________________________ and a better memory than those new to the hobby. He added that the veterans could also process (6) __________________________________________________.

The scientists believe birdwatching benefits the brain like (7) __________________________________________________ instrument. This is because the brain learns new skills, which (8) __________________________________________________ and connections. Dr Wing said birdwatching combines the ability to search for and identify things with a sensitivity to movement (9) __________________________________________________. Other scientists recommend the hobby. They say it is good for our mental health and (10) __________________________________________________. It is also good for our physical health because we are outside in the fresh air and sunlight. Other benefits include (11) __________________________________________________ and becoming aware of the environment. Birdwatchers say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many (12) __________________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say birds are besides beautiful?
  2. What kinds of diseases might birdwatching protect our brains against?
  3. How many people in the research had their brain scanned?
  4. Whose brains were more active?
  5. What could veteran birdwatchers process more quickly?
  6. What did the article say birdwatching was like doing?
  7. What did the researcher say people could detect?
  8. What can help our physical health when we are outside?
  9. What can people connect with when they go birdwatching?
  10. Who might people meet when they go birdwatching?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say birds are besides beautiful?
a) delicious
b) noisy
c) fascinating
d) colourful
2) What kinds of diseases might birdwatching protect our brains against?
a) age-related diseases
b) bird flu
c) deadly diseases
d) incurable diseases
3) How many people in the research had their brain scanned?
a) 60
b) 58
c) 56
d) 47
4) Whose brains were more active?
a) the researchers
b) birds that cannot fly
c) eagles
d) veteran birdwatchers
5) What could veteran birdwatchers process more quickly?
a) computer code
b) numbers
c) information
d) bird thoughts

6) What did the article say birdwatching was like doing?
a) learning to fly
b) learning a musical instrument
c) watching an action movie
d) visiting a museum
7) What did the researcher say people could detect?
a) smells
b) problems
c) differences
d) patterns
8) What can help our physical health when we are outside?
a) trees and grass
b) fresh air and sunlight
c) rivers and mountains
d) rabbits and cows
9) What can people connect with when they go birdwatching?
a) family
b) nature
c) their inner self
d) the internet
10) Who might people meet when they go birdwatching?
a) like-minded people
b) photographers
c) artists
d) hunter

Role play

Role  A – Eagle
You think an eagle is the best bird. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their birds. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a penguin, an owl or a dove.

Role  B – Penguin
You think a penguin is the best bird. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their birds. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): an eagle, an owl or a dove.

Role  C – Owl
You think an owl is the best bird. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their birds. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a penguin, an eagle or a dove.

Role  D – Dove
You think a dove is the best bird. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their birds. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a penguin, an owl or an eagle.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'bird'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'age'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • wild
    • protect
    • related
    • thinking
    • active
    • quickly
    • believe
    • search
    • pattern
    • physical
    • nature
    • many

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Birdwatching

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'bird'?
    3. How beautiful are birds?
    4. Are all birds beautiful?
    5. What do you think of birdwatching as a hobby?
    6. What birds do you see every day?
    7. Why might birdwatching be good for us?
    8. How can we watch birds more often?
    9. Is a bird a good pet?
    10. What things do you need to go birdwatching?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'age'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Which is better, going birdwatching or learning the piano?
    5. What new skills do you want to learn?
    6. What do you think of being outside in the fresh air?
    7. How do you feel when you 'connect with nature'?
    8. How good is your social life?
    9. Do you like to meet like-minded people?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Birds are fascinating and (1) ____ creatures. Looking at them in the wild could be good for us. That is what researchers in Toronto, Canada say. The scientists found that birdwatching could (2) ____ our brains against age-related diseases. Lead researcher Dr Erik Wing said: "Skills from birding could be beneficial (3) ____ intelligence and thinking as people age." Dr Wing and his colleagues compared scans of the brain activity (4) ____ 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies. The brains of the veteran birders were a (5) ____ more active. Dr Wing said the veterans had a longer attention span and a better memory than those new to the hobby. He added that the veterans could also process information more (6) ____.

    The scientists believe birdwatching benefits the brain like (7) ____ a musical instrument. This is because the brain learns new skills, (8) ____ add new pathways and connections. Dr Wing said birdwatching combines the ability (9) ____ search for and identify things with a sensitivity to movement and pattern detection. Other scientists recommend the hobby. They say it is good for our mental health and can (10) ____ stress. It is also good for our physical health because we are outside in the fresh air and sunlight. Other benefits include connecting (11) ____ nature and becoming aware of the environment. Birdwatchers say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many (12) ____-minded people.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     beauty     (b)     beautifully     (c)     beautiful     (d)     beautify    
    2. (a)     protect     (b)     protest     (c)     project     (d)     profess    
    3. (a)     for     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    4. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     up     (d)     that    
    5. (a)     loads     (b)     lot     (c)     many     (d)     much    
    6. (a)     quick     (b)     quicken     (c)     quicker     (d)     quickly    
    7. (a)     learn     (b)     learns     (c)     learning     (d)     learned    
    8. (a)     these     (b)     what     (c)     such     (d)     which    
    9. (a)     to     (b)     for     (c)     as     (d)     and    
    10. (a)     reduces     (b)     reduce     (c)     reducing     (d)     reduction    
    11. (a)     down     (b)     with     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    12. (a)     fond     (b)     loves     (c)     like     (d)     enjoy

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Birds are giiaasnntfc
    2. beautiful trasreeuc
    3. skills from birding could be iaflbnecie
    4. Dr Wing and his aoscelgleu
    5. veterans had a longer nitotenat span
    6. the veterans could also crespso information

    Paragraph 2

    1. learning a musical smtitnunre
    2. new pathways and onnecnocsti
    3. search for and fiditney things
    4. other scientists rcemdomne the hobby
    5. good for our syhcliap health
    6. becoming aware of the nnroieenvmt

    Put the text back together

    (    )   active. Dr Wing said the veterans had a longer attention span and a better memory than those new to the
    (    )   activity of 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies. The brains of the veteran birders were a lot more
    (    )   and sunlight. Other benefits include connecting with nature and becoming aware of the environment. Birdwatchers
    (    )   beneficial for intelligence and thinking as people age." Dr Wing and his colleagues compared scans of the brain
    (  1  )   Birds are fascinating and beautiful creatures. Looking at them in the wild could be good
    (    )   brains against age-related diseases. Lead researcher Dr Erik Wing said: "Skills from birding could be
    (    )   for us. That is what researchers in Toronto, Canada say. The scientists found that birdwatching could protect our
    (    )   health and can reduce stress. It is also good for our physical health because we are outside in the fresh air
    (    )   hobby. He added that the veterans could also process information more quickly.
    (    )   instrument. This is because the brain learns new skills, which add new pathways and connections. Dr Wing
    (    )   said birdwatching combines the ability to search for and identify things with a sensitivity
    (    )   say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many like-minded people.
    (    )   The scientists believe birdwatching benefits the brain like learning a musical
    (    )   to movement and pattern detection. Other scientists recommend the hobby. They say it is good for our mental

    Put the words in the right order

    1. at   good   .   in   is   Looking   the   them   wild
    2. birdwatching   brains   .   could   found   our   protect   Scientists   that
    3. are   beneficial   birding   for   from   intelligence   .   Skills
    4. a   attention   had   He   longer   said   span   .   veterans
    5. Veterans   also   could   information   more   process   quickly   .
    6. benefits   believe   birdwatching   scientists   that   The   the   brain   .
    7. for   good   health   .   it's   mental   our   say   They
    8. are   fresh   in   outside   the   We   air   .
    9. Connecting   and   awareness   environment   .   nature   of   the   with
    10. for   good   hobby   is   life   .   social   Their   their

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Birds are fascinating / fascinate and beautiful creatures. Looking at them in the wild could be good for us / them. That is what researchers in Toronto, Canada say. The scientists found that birdwatching could protect our brains against / for age-related diseases. Lead researcher Dr Erik Wing said: "Skills from birding could be benefit / beneficial for intelligence and thinking as / has people age." Dr Wing and his colleges / colleagues compared scans of the brain activity at / of 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies. The brains of the veteran birders were a lot / loads more active. Dr Wing said the veterans had a longer attention span and a better memories / memory than those new to the hobby. He added that the veterans could also process information more quicker / quickly.

    The scientists believe / belief birdwatching benefits the brain like learning the / a musical instrument. This is because / as the brain learns new skills, which add new pathways and connections. Dr Wing said birdwatching combines the ability to search to / for and identify things with a sensitivity to / too movement and pattern detection. Other scientists recommend the hobby. They say it is good / well for our mental health and can reduce stress. It is also good for our physical / physically health because we are outside in the fresh air and sunlight / sunny. Other benefits include connecting with nature and becoming beware / aware of the environment. Birdwatchers say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many like-minded person / people.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    B_rds  _r_  f_sc_n_t_ng  _nd  b___t_f_l  cr__t_r_s.  L__k_ng  _t  th_m  _n  th_  w_ld  c__ld  b_  g__d  f_r  _s.  Th_t  _s  wh_t  r_s__rch_rs  _n  T_r_nt_,  C_n_d_  s_y.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  f__nd  th_t  b_rdw_tch_ng  c__ld  pr_t_ct  __r  br__ns  _g__nst  _g_-r_l_t_d  d_s__s_s.  L__d  r_s__rch_r  Dr  _r_k  W_ng  s__d:  "Sk_lls  fr_m  b_rd_ng  c__ld  b_  b_n_f_c__l  f_r  _nt_ll_g_nc_  _nd  th_nk_ng  _s  p__pl_  _g_."  Dr  W_ng  _nd  h_s  c_ll__g__s  c_mp_r_d  sc_ns  _f  th_  br__n  _ct_v_ty  _f  29  v_t_r_n  b_rdw_tch_rs  _nd  29  n_wb__s.  Th_  br__ns  _f  th_  v_t_r_n  b_rd_rs  w_r_  _  l_t  m_r_  _ct_v_.  Dr  W_ng  s__d  th_  v_t_r_ns  h_d  _  l_ng_r  _tt_nt__n  sp_n  _nd  _  b_tt_r  m_m_ry  th_n  th_s_  n_w  t_  th_  h_bby.  H_  _dd_d  th_t  th_  v_t_r_ns  c__ld  _ls_  pr_c_ss  _nf_rm_t__n  m_r_  q__ckly.

    Th_  sc__nt_sts  b_l__v_  b_rdw_tch_ng  b_n_f_ts  th_  br__n  l_k_  l__rn_ng  _  m_s_c_l  _nstr_m_nt.  Th_s  _s  b_c__s_  th_  br__n  l__rns  n_w  sk_lls,  wh_ch  _dd  n_w  p_thw_ys  _nd  c_nn_ct__ns.  Dr  W_ng  s__d  b_rdw_tch_ng  c_mb_n_s  th_  _b_l_ty  t_  s__rch  f_r  _nd  _d_nt_fy  th_ngs  w_th  _  s_ns_t_v_ty  t_  m_v_m_nt  _nd  p_tt_rn  d_t_ct__n.  _th_r  sc__nt_sts  r_c_mm_nd  th_  h_bby.  Th_y  s_y  _t  _s  g__d  f_r  __r  m_nt_l  h__lth  _nd  c_n  r_d_c_  str_ss.  _t  _s  _ls_  g__d  f_r  __r  phys_c_l  h__lth  b_c__s_  w_  _r_  __ts_d_  _n  th_  fr_sh  __r  _nd  s_nl_ght.  _th_r  b_n_f_ts  _ncl_d_  c_nn_ct_ng  w_th  n_t_r_  _nd  b_c_m_ng  _w_r_  _f  th_  _nv_r_nm_nt.  B_rdw_tch_rs  s_y  th__r  h_bby  _s  g__d  f_r  th__r  s_c__l  l_f_  b_c__s_  th_y  m__t  m_ny  l_k_-m_nd_d  p__pl_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    birds are fascinating and beautiful creatures looking at them in the wild could be good for us that is what researchers in toronto canada say the scientists found that birdwatching could protect our brains against agerelated diseases lead researcher dr erik wing said skills from birding could be beneficial for intelligence and thinking as people age dr wing and his colleagues compared scans of the brain activity of 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies the brains of the veteran birders were a lot more active dr wing said the veterans had a longer attention span and a better memory than those new to the hobby he added that the veterans could also process information more quickly

    the scientists believe birdwatching benefits the brain like learning a musical instrument this is because the brain learns new skills which add new pathways and connections dr wing said birdwatching combines the ability to search for and identify things with a sensitivity to movement and pattern detection other scientists recommend the hobby they say it is good for our mental health and can reduce stress it is also good for our physical health because we are outside in the fresh air and sunlight other benefits include connecting with nature and becoming aware of the environment birdwatchers say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many likeminded people

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Birdsarefascinatingandbeautifulcreatures.Lookingattheminthewildc
    ouldbegoodforus.ThatiswhatresearchersinToronto,Canadasay.Thes
    cientistsfoundthatbirdwatchingcouldprotectourbrainsagainstage-
    relateddiseases.LeadresearcherDrErikWingsaid:"Skillsfrombirdingc
    ouldbebeneficialforintelligenceandthinkingaspeopleage."DrWingan
    dhiscolleaguescomparedscansofthebrainactivityof29veteranbirdwa
    tchersand29newbies.Thebrainsoftheveteranbirderswerealotmorea
    ctive.DrWingsaidtheveteranshadalongerattentionspanandabetter
    memorythanthosenewtothehobby.Headdedthattheveteranscouldal
    soprocessinformationmorequickly.Thescientistsbelievebirdwatchin
    gbenefitsthebrainlikelearningamusicalinstrument.Thisisbecausethe
    brainlearnsnewskills,whichaddnewpathwaysandconnections.DrWin
    gsaidbirdwatchingcombinestheabilitytosearchforandidentifythings
    withasensitivitytomovementandpatterndetection.Otherscientistsre
    commendthehobby.Theysayitisgoodforourmentalhealthandcanred
    ucestress.Itisalsogoodforourphysicalhealthbecauseweareoutsidein
    thefreshairandsunlight.Otherbenefitsincludeconnectingwithnature
    andbecomingawareoftheenvironment.Birdwatcherssaytheirhobbyi
    sgoodfortheirsociallifebecausetheymeetmanylike-mindedpeople.

    Free writing

    Write about birdwatching for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Birdwatching is a better hobby than gaming. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. BIRDS: Make a poster about birds. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BIRDWATCHING: Write a magazine article about birdwatching becoming an elementary school subject. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on birds. Ask him/her three questions about birds. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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